News Releases

Hunters Asked to Help Collect Deer Biological Data

Ever wonder how old the buck was you took in deer season? Vermont hunters who harvest a deer during the November rifle season will have the opportunity to find out, if they submit the proper tooth from their deer.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is asking hunters to help in gathering more biological data on the state's deer population. Hunters who get a deer during the November 14-29 rifle season are asked to provide an incisor tooth from their deer when they go to a reporting station.

Biologists are collecting middle incisor teeth from all rifle season deer in order to evaluate regional differences in ages and antler characteristics of bucks as well as to help estimate population size, growth rate, health, and mortality rates. Each tooth will be cross-sectioned to accurately determine the deer's age, and the results will be posted on the Fish & Wildlife website next spring.

Hunters are asked to obtain a tooth envelope from the reporting agent. Write your name, Conservation ID number and date of kill on it. Remove one of the middle incisor teeth, being careful to include the root. Place the tooth in the envelope and give it to the reporting agent.

Instructions on removing the tooth will be posted at reporting stations, and a video showing how will be available on Fish & Wildlife's website www.vtfishandwildlife.com.

The department is also asking hunters to keep the antlers from their deer at home so they can be examined by Fish & Wildlife personnel after the deer season in order to collect additional biological data on antler development.

"Information about the ages of deer in the population is critically important, and more information allows us to make better management decisions," said Nick Fortin, Vermont Fish & Wildlife's deer project leader. "To get accurate population estimates, and to better assess our current management strategies, we really need to get teeth from as many deer as possible."

Hunters who submit a tooth will be entered in a drawing to win one of five $50 Cabelas gift cards.